Aligarh Muslim University shaped some of Indian sport’s earliest records. Lala Amarnath, who scored India’s first Test century in 1933, and Syed Mushtaq Ali, who scored the first Indian Test century abroad in 1936, were both educated at AMU. Hockey captain Zafar Iqbal won Olympic gold in 1980 after graduating in civil engineering from AMU, and shooter Annu Raj Singh won Commonwealth Games gold in 2010.
AMU sportspeople at a glance
| Name | Sport | Best-known achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Lala Amarnath | Cricket | India’s first Test century, 1933 |
| Syed Mushtaq Ali | Cricket | First Indian Test century abroad, 1936 |
| Wazir Ali | Cricket | 268 not out in 1935, then an Indian record |
| Nazir Ali | Cricket | Played in India’s first Test, 1932 |
| Zafar Iqbal | Hockey | Olympic gold, Moscow 1980 |
| Annu Raj Singh | Shooting | Commonwealth Games gold, 2010 |
| Jamshid Nassiri | Football | 100+ goals in Indian football |
| Majid Bishkar | Football | Federation Cup with East Bengal, 1980 |
| Khwaja Saeed Hai | Tennis | Wimbledon main draw, 1955 and 1956 |
A ground with a long history
The AMU Cricket Club dates back to 1878, when the university was still the MAO College. Its home is the Willingdon Cricket Ground with its pavilion, named after Lord Willingdon. In February 1927 the college side even played a first-class match against the touring MCC. Read more about the campus in our guide to AMU landmarks.
1. Lala Amarnath
Lala Amarnath was educated at AMU and learned his cricket on its Willingdon ground. AMU’s STS School lists him among its prominent alumni. On his Test debut in December 1933, against England in Bombay, he scored India’s first Test century. He later captained India.
Also readAMU Alumni in Bollywood: 11 Actors, Writers and Lyricists
2. Syed Mushtaq Ali
Syed Mushtaq Ali studied in Indore and at AMU. His 112 against England at Old Trafford, Manchester, in 1936 was the first Test century by an Indian batsman outside India. India’s domestic T20 tournament, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, is named after him.
3. Wazir Ali
Wazir Ali was educated at AMU and played in India’s early Test sides of the 1930s. His 268 not out for the Indian University Occasionals in 1935 was then the highest score in Indian first-class cricket.
4. Nazir Ali
Nazir Ali, Wazir’s brother, played for the AMU cricket club in the 1920s. He was part of the Indian team that played the country’s first Test, at Lord’s in June 1932.
5. Zafar Iqbal
Zafar Iqbal graduated in civil engineering from AMU in 1978, and AMU lists him among its alumni. He was part of the Indian team that won Olympic gold in Moscow in 1980, carried India’s flag at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and received the Padma Shri in 2012.
6. Annu Raj Singh
Annu Raj Singh graduated in political science from the AMU Women’s College in 2006. At the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi she won gold in the 10m air pistol pairs with Heena Sidhu.
7. Jamshid Nassiri
Jamshid Nassiri came from Iran to study at AMU in 1979. His goals for the university at the North Zone inter-university championship got him signed by East Bengal. He won the Federation Cup in his first tournament in 1980 and became the first foreign player to score over 100 goals in Indian football.
8. Majid Bishkar
Majid Bishkar, also from Iran, studied at AMU in the late 1970s and was spotted playing for the university side. He joined East Bengal with Nassiri and helped the club win the Federation Cup in 1980.
9. Khwaja Saeed Hai
Khwaja Saeed Hai studied at AMU, where he developed his tennis. After moving to Pakistan he became the first Pakistani player to reach a Grand Slam main draw through qualifying, playing at Wimbledon in 1955 and 1956.
Frequently asked questions
Which famous cricketers studied at AMU?
Lala Amarnath, Syed Mushtaq Ali and Wazir Ali were educated at AMU. Nazir Ali played for the AMU cricket club. All four played Test cricket for India in the 1930s.
Did Lala Amarnath study at Aligarh Muslim University?
Yes. Lala Amarnath was educated at AMU and is listed among the prominent alumni of its STS School. He scored India’s first Test century in December 1933.
Which AMU alumnus won an Olympic gold medal?
Hockey player Zafar Iqbal, a 1978 civil engineering graduate of AMU, won Olympic gold with India at the Moscow Games in 1980.
Did Dhyan Chand study at AMU?
Some sources say he did, but AMU’s own alumni pages do not list him and his early education is poorly documented, so we have left him off this list.
For alumni in other fields, see our lists of famous AMU alumni and Alig politicians.
Sources: AMU STS School, prominent alumni; Cricket Club, AMU, Wikipedia; Wikipedia biographies of Lala Amarnath, Syed Mushtaq Ali, Wazir Ali, Zafar Iqbal, Jamshid Nassiri, Majid Bishkar and Khwaja Saeed Hai; Ummid.com, October 2010.
